The temperature today has so far reached 70° F. /21° C.Winter aconites, Eranthis hyemalis, are open - the earliest ever in this garden, where they are usually later than in some other local gardens. Garden snowdrops are beginning to open here and there - these are mostly various Galanthus elwesii accessions, although other groups have buds up. Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, was blooming before the big temperature drop, but most of its blooms froze. But already a few replacement blooms have opened. A fruiting basidiomycete has appeared on a compost heap. The compost at the base of the mushroom felt warm. Hamamelis 'Jelena' and 'Birgit' are blooming. The big surprise today is right near the front door: a 4'-5' black rat snake is sunning itself right out in the open beside the front steps! The same snake was seen several times last fall and into early winter. Jim McKenneyMontgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, although today's conditions remind me of winter in Florida. _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…